Remember that talk of the Miami Heat being finished?
Yeah, I thought that was pretty ridiculous, too.
What so many critics seemed to forget was that the Heat still possessed eight-time All-Star Dwyane Wade and three-time NBA MVP LeBron James. Game 1 gave us the idea that these two could truly work without Chris Bosh, but we quickly learned in games 2 and 3 that it was going to take more than two individuals to win this series.
By Game 4, those two got it together and put on the performance of a lifetime to the tune of 70 combined points with James' 40 points, 18 boards and nine assists leading the way. The two hooked up for a number of incredible plays that resulted in high percentage shots, which eventually led to a huge Heat victory on the road.
Game 5 was a beatdown. It doesn't matter how you say it; it was a pure beating. Wade and James combined for a mere 58 points this time around, while getting huge contributions from Shane Battier and Udonis Haslem. Miami won the game by 32, but will now play Game 6 without Haslem and Dexter Pittman due to flagrant fouls they dished out.
Without Bosh, LeBron James has taken over the reins and is attempting to lead this shorthanded team to a second consecutive finals appearance. They're one game away from defeating the Indiana Pacers and envisioning a conference finals where they'll either take on the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers.
We explore how LeBron is going to be capable of leading this Heat team to the championship, with or without Bosh.
Versatility
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What should have earned him a Defensive Player of the Year award, LeBron James' versatility has been key.
James may be listed as a small forward, but it's already well-known how versatile of a player he can be when it comes to playing different positions. This is a 6'8", 250 pound player who has started at point guard, small forward, power forward and even center at certain points during his career.
The start at center came during a Heat victory against the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this season, where James spent most of the night defending Blazers center Marcus Camby. He has also spent time defending other big men, including Pau Gasol, David West and Dwight Howard. It's obvious that James is not the type of player to back down from any sort of challenge.
When Chris Bosh went down with his injury, the Heat could have easily been dead in the water. Their depth in the frontcourt is extremely limited with Udonis Haslem being the only big man on the team who can stretch the floor with his mid-range jumper. However, his shot hasn't been falling which only exemplifies the point of how significant James stepping up as a power forward in this series truly is.
With James on the floor, he doesn't entirely make up for the loss of Bosh, but he does enough to make you momentarily forget that he isn't playing. Because of his size, athleticism and defensive capabilities, James is fully able to play different positions in order to make up for the shortcomings of Bosh or any other player who isn't making their impact felt.
When you have James play any position, the Heat immediately have the advantage at that spot. If he's playing the point, he has the advantage and the same can be said for when he's playing small or power forward. Because of his versatility, James is able to address certain aspects of the game that his teammates can't consistently show up for.
Stamina and Conditioning
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When you're a 6'8", 250-pound man-beast, you are capable of things that not many other players could even think of accomplishing.
One of those traits is being able to play a ridiculous amount of minutes on the court, while still maintaining an efficient and well-rounded game. LeBron James probably expected his minutes to be reduced, considering that he joined a team with two other superstars, but has seen that idea thrown to the floor and stomped on after the injury to Bosh.
In the first five games of the Heat's series against the Indiana Pacers, James has played 43:15; 42:49; 40:06; 43:54; and 38:09 minutes. There has been no such thing as a break for LeBron in the semifinals. He has been on the court up to 91 percent of a playoff game, yet it has caused little to no effect on James's stats as they have only skyrocketed.
The only times James has gotten any amount of significant rest came in Game 3 when the Heat were already defeated and in Game 5 when his 30 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists were enough to lead Miami to the point where he could sit out the final three minutes. We're not going to doubt the idea that he probably could have played those final three minutes if he had to.
Even before this series, James was playing heavy minutes. He managed to play in fewer than 40 minutes in three of the Heat's five postseason games against New York, but was still forced to play up to 41:27 during their lone loss in the series. Even with the minutes he received, James was the only scorer for the Heat by the end of the game.
All those minutes translated to 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists per game and a 7-3 record in the postseason thus far, including being 3-2 without the efforts of Chris Bosh.Â
What was that about fatigue playing a factor? You would have expected James to slow down by this point, but it simply doesn't seem like it's going to happen. That's because you don't expect a player of James' caliber to succumb to fatigue in arguably the most important postseason of his career.
Shane Battier's Defense
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The pickup of Shane Battier will go down as the top acquisition in the short free agency that transpired before the start of the season.
We spend too much time focusing on box scores to realize how important Battier has been for the Heat in the postseason. He may not make many buckets, but he's still going to give a complete effort on both sides of the ball, will inevitably end up defending the opponent's top scorer for long stretches and continue to fit in perfectly in the Heat dynamic of playing physical basketball and using quick hands to force turnovers.
If Battier is hitting three-pointers like he did in Game 5, the Heat aren't going to be beat. It's not a tall order to ask. I completely understand that Battier probably won't hit four three-pointers per game, but hitting at least two per is enough to take the weight off LeBron and Dwyane's shoulders. Having him make those shots stretches the floor just enough to give more room for those two to go to work in the lane.
However, Battier's offense isn't the reason he was signed by the Heat. Miami signed him for the sole purpose of adding on a player who can come off the bench and play aggressive, physical defense. The Heat weren't about to rely on Mike Miller and James Jones as their top defenders at the two and three, so going after Battier was by far the best thing the Heat could do with the funds they had.
Battier's main purpose on the team is to give LeBron the rest he needs on defense, so he can have energy left over on offense. If you're wondering why Battier has been matched up with David West the past few nights, it's because James gets far more tired guarding him than Danny Granger.
Miami doesn't need Battier's services on offense as much as they need James', so they stick Battier on the player who is going to take more energy to defend. The same happened last series when Battier was defending Carmelo Anthony. Even though 'Melo was largely successful, Battier still made him work for each and every one of his points.
By the time the fourth quarter came around, Anthony had hardly anything left in the tank after being defended by James and Battier for 36 minutes.
Making Up for Chris Bosh
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Losing Chris Bosh may have just been the worst-case scenario for the Heat in their semifinals series against the Pacers.
The Pacers have a huge starting lineup, which includes all but the point guard being at least 6'8". Throw in guys like Louis Amundson and Tyler Hansbrough off the bench and you might run into some problems when it comes to rebounding and scoring inside. Bosh was meant to be the player that was going to drag these frontcourt defenders out to the perimeter in order for Wade and James to drive.
The basketball gods didn't want the Heat's run to the NBA Finals to be that easy, so they ultimately decided to give Bosh an awkward abdominal injury. Bosh is still listed as out indefinitely and has yet to participate in any sort of workout with the team. There is absolutely no timetable available stating a possible return date for Bosh.
Seeing the Heat lose in games 2 and 3 shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone. That's usually what happens when you lose arguably the most significant player on your team and seemingly the only consistent mid-range threat. Let's also not forget that Bosh was supposed to be the only player with the length capable of limiting Roy Hibbert and being a key contributor on the boards.
Guarding Hibbert has become a job for the entire team. It usually involves whoever is defending him to front him and then a second defender to come from behind to disrupt the entry pass. With so much pressure and recognizing the speed of the Heat defense, the Pacers have strayed away from feeding Hibbert, and it showed in Game 5 when the 7'2" center only had eight points on 10 field-goal attempts.
The rebounding has come upon LeBron James, however. He is the best rebounder on this team, and that's nothing to be disappointed by. James has recognized that his team needs him to step up on the boards, and he's responded with three games of 10 boards or more, including an 18-rebound outing in the decisive Game 4 victory.
It's no coincidence that every time James records double-digit rebounds, the Heat end up winning. Each time the Heat have won, they ended up winning the rebounding battle. That's what tends to happen when your 6'8" small forward is outrebounding established rebounders in David West and Roy Hibbert.
Offense Is Near Unstoppable at This Point
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It's a shame that the Miami Heat didn't get enough time to play together last year to figure out how to play as a team.
Otherwise, they would have most likely have found a way to defeat the zone defense of the Dallas Mavericks. After witnessing the 115 point onslaught in Game 5, the Heat have the offensive tools to best any type of defense. The Heat have finally recognized how important it is to move the ball around and get everyone involved, especially early where you can begin to establish a rhythm.
LeBron James has led the way for the Heat thus far offensively with a 30-point average in the current series against the Pacers, including a 40-point outburst in Game 4 and a 29-point-per-game average for the entire postseason. James has scored under 20 points on only one occasion and has scored at least 30 points on five different occasions.
That's mighty impressive for a player who is still dishing out six assists, grabbing nine boards and playing the best defense on the team. James is embracing these challenges with ambition and tenacity we have never seen before from the Heat small forward.
This is a completely different LeBron than the angry player we saw last year and the overwhelmed one-man-show we witnessed in Cleveland. This LeBron James is playing comfortably and allowing the game to come to him. He's not forcing the issue with mid-range and perimeter jumpers. Instead, he is using his teammates to make him a better player, especially on offense.
LeBron isn't taking the ill-advised perimeter jumpers he was settling on last year. He's doing the smart thing by transitioning his regular season play to the postseason by continuing to drive and taking high percentage shots. His field goal percentage has dipped to 49 percent, but that's what happens when your first two series are against team's with huge centers who clog the lane.
Nevertheless, James is playing offense comfortably, and it shows in how much ease it takes for him to get to the rim and finish. He's relying more on his post-work, cutting more often and working well with an excellent passer in Dwyane Wade, who is creating plenty of these opportunities for James.
Playing Well with Dwyane Wade
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"Oh, that will never work! LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are the same players in different bodies! How do you expect them to work together on the same team with those super-inflated egos!"
Well, uneducated critic, they've just about figured it out. The Chris Bosh injury may have just been a blessing in disguise for the Heat, as they are firsthand witnesses to watching arguably one of the greatest duos of all-time working together in perfect synchronization. The difference in the teamwork involving those two between games 2 and 3 and games 4 and 5 was an incredible improvement.
Without Bosh, James and Wade are learning how to play off one another. This reality check is just what the Heat needed. Talent is going to help this team skate by anymore. When Bosh went down, Miami lost that third scorer they used as a crutch. The offense is reduced to Wade and James passing the ball to one another with Bosh getting the occasional touch because there's no movement among the players.
The way the Heat offense is designed doesn't make life easy for this team. If the Heat aren't scoring their points on the fast break, scoring in the half-court seems difficult to come by in certain instances, which was showcased once Bosh departed with his abdominal injury. Miami's simple offense couldn't rely solely on two players. It was going to take far more than pure talent to win a series against an actual team.
Instead of Wade and James taking turns, they're now working together. Throughout games 4 and 5, Wade and James were constantly moving, cutting and passing. As a result, they're finding each other for easier baskets than they've ever gotten before. The jump shots are at a minimum, which is incredible when you consider that there is hardly anyone on the team to stretch the floor.
In the past two games, the Wade and James duo have combined for 128 points. James had 40 in Game 4 and 30 in Game 5 with shooting percentages of 52 percent and 63 percent, respectively. Wade chipped in a modest 30 in Game 4 and 28 in Game 5 with shooting percentages of 57 and 59 percent. That's a decent improvement for the All-Star who had five points on 13 shots in Game 3.
It's obvious to see where the improvement came from. These two are learning how to play together as teammates, rather than just having one guy lead the offense while the other stands off in a corner. It's strange to say, but losing Bosh may just have been the best thing to happen to the Miami Heat.
Involves Teammates
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It took awhile, but somebody not named Dwyane or LeBron finally stepped up for the Miami Heat in their series against the Pacers.
In Game 4, it was Udonis Haslem converting eight points in a decisive fourth quarter. The jump shots by Haslem were a necessity because the tremendous effort by Wade and James could have all been for naught due to the fatigue they encountered in the fourth quarter. It was exactly what the Heat needed: a role player who stepped up and made up for the loss of Bosh.
In Game 5, Shane Battier set the tone early with consecutive three-pointers to start the game. He'd add two more and a free throw to finish with 13 points on the night. The nine points Battier had in the first quarter were a message to the Heat opponent that this was no longer a two-man team. There are a few other guys on this roster who have a decent game of their own.
We recognize the defensive values of guys like Haslem and Battier, but they make this Heat team nearly unstoppable when they're hitting their jump shots and stretching the floor. Just letting James and Wade know they can relax is enough to motivate them even further.
When role players are hitting their jumpers, James and Wade can take that heavy weight off their shoulders and play the game with a relaxed and comfortable approach. They no longer have to strain themselves in order to get their points, while force-feeding passes to wide-open shooters who can't make anything.
You can see the disappointment in the faces of Wade and James when they see an open shot end up as nothing.
All of those open shots are created by James or Wade, with LeBron doing most of the facilitating. Even though the role players just started stepping up, James has been attempting to get them involved throughout the playoffs.
The difference is Battier and Haslem finally started to make their shots.
Defense
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As good as the Heat's offense can be, it pales in comparison to the intensity and pressure of their defense.
This Heat team has yet to allow more than 95 points in any postseason game. They've had six games where they've held their opponents below 90 points and three games where they've held the opponent to fewer than 80. Their top defensive performance remains Game 1 against the New York Knicks, where they allowed 67 points on 36 percent shooting.
Of course, this defensive intensity all stems from LeBron James. However, credit also goes out to the entire team. Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole have played well against George Hill and Darren Collison; Dwyane Wade has made Paul George nonexistent; Shane Battier has been incredible defending David West and others; and the frontcourt trio of Joel Anthony, Udonis Haslem and Ronny Turiaf has done just about everything in its power to limit Roy Hibbert and David West.
When it comes down to it, though, it's LeBron leading the way on defense. The one-on-one pressure he provides to his assignment is second-to-none in this league. His strength, agility and athleticism are all utilized on defense.
It's not just the fact that he can lock down his assignment or effectively defending five positions. It's how well of a team defender James is that allows the Heat to relish in fast breaks and easy baskets that take five seconds.
LeBron is so quick that he's able to cover an incredible amount of ground. That quickness, agility and timing allows him to constantly force turnovers, which result in the easiest two points any team could get.
Also, the pressure of having James on the court defending is enough to make opponents wary. Knowing that he is lurking somewhere, capable of swatting your shot into the rafters or stealing your pass and throwing down a vicious dunk, gives opponents the presence of mind that they always have to be careful when executing on offense.
More Clutch Than You Think
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It's time to stop with the LeBron isn't clutch chatter.
It's not only repetitive and boring, but uneducated. It's a misconception created by the talking heads on ESPN to create a story that's going to bring in ratings. LeBron James isn't on the level of making last-second shots like Kobe Bryant or Carmelo Anthony. However, he's in a different class of being clutch that doesn't involve taking those shots.
Can we not consider James' Game 4 as a clutch performance? Is scoring 40 points, grabbing 18 rebounds and dishing out nine assists in a decisive game that could have effectively been the beginning of the end clutch? If James doesn't post up those gaudy numbers, the Heat are probably hanging their heads as they go back home down 3-1.
Since he didn't record those 40 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists in the fourth quarter, does that mean it's not a clutch performance? If you have an outstanding 48 minutes in a decisive game that could make or break your season, that's just as clutch as playing awful for 47 minutes and then hitting a game winning shot at the buzzer.
What about posting up 30 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in a 32-point blowout two nights later? He didn't score much in the fourth quarter, though, so I'll just assume that those stats meant nothing to some.
Don't worry, though, because James has also had impressive fourth quarters. He came up huge against New York and was key in Game 1 against Indiana where he managed to have just as many points in the fourth as the entire Pacers team.
Please don't say that it only matters in the finals. The 40-18-9? Just another game. 30-10-8 two nights later? Doesn't matter until the NBA Finals start.
It seems to me that we might be missing the point of watching basketball.
Making Up for Last Year
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It is every young athletes dream to make it to a professional league and win a championship.
The MVPs and all the individual awards are nice, but it doesn't mean anything without that one trophy that really matters. When you grasp that trophy, you know that you have achieved a level of greatness that so few have reached before.
Everybody in the playoffs wants that trophy. Kobe Bryant wanted that sixth ring to put him in a brighter light next to Michael Jordan. Tim Duncan wants his fifth ring to continue a legendary career. Kevin Durant and company are looking to win a title after making several key miscues in last year's conference finals.
However, I have no doubt in my mind that nobody wants that trophy more than LeBron James. The criticism is not falling on deaf ears; LeBron has heard it all. He knows that there is pressure on him to get that title. The individual accolades have already made him a Hall of Fame worthy player at the age of 27, but he'd still trade all three of his MVP's for one ring.
LeBron felt as low as low gets after last year's NBA Finals. He knows he screwed up and he's not afraid to admit it.
That's all in the past. LeBron, and the rest of this Heat team, are focusing on what's going on right now.
I've said it beforeâ€"the Miami Heat losing last year's finals was beneficial to the team's success for the rest of their tenure together. It hurts that they lost, yes, but they all learned lessons. They recognize that winning takes so much more than utilizing talent and athleticism. This game is so much more than a bunch of players who can hold their own. It's about teamwork.
When the Heat lost last year, LeBron became a changed man. He's taken a strictly business approach throughout the 2011-12 campaign, and it's led him to winning a third MVP. That MVP means nothing to him, however, because he's had his eyes set on a different piece of hardware for the past year.
This team goes as far as LeBron takes them. That's a leader that everyone can aspire to.
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